NYC Stays & Rentals Guidebook

Food scene

Emilio's of Morris Park

This fast-casual eatery is immediately identifiable by the contemporary artwork on the building’s exterior. Inside, diners will discover an extensive menu of freshly made Italian-American favorites—from panini, rolls, calzones and heroes to a variety of meat, seafood and vegetarian entrées. Owner Richie DiNardo, who has helmed the spot since 2006, also offers an array of pizzas with specialty toppings; the chicken vodka sauce pie holds wide appeal. Takeout is available as is full-service catering.

Emilio's of Morris Park

1051 Morris Park Avenue

This fast-casual eatery is immediately identifiable by the contemporary artwork on the building’s exterior. Inside, diners will discover an extensive menu of freshly made Italian-American favorites—from panini, rolls, calzones and heroes to a variety of meat, seafood and vegetarian entrées. Owner Richie DiNardo, who has helmed the spot since 2006, also offers an array of pizzas with specialty toppings; the chicken vodka sauce pie holds wide appeal. Takeout is available as is full-service catering.

La Masa Restaurant

Husband and wife duo Joshua and Laura Montalvo bring authentic Colombian food to Morris Park with this airy restaurant. Renowned for their extensive menu of savory and sweet empanadas (including gluten-free varieties), the couple also offers patacones (fried green plantains), maduros rellenos (stuffed sweet plantains) and arepas (savory corn cakes), all served with an assortment of meat or vegetarian topping choices plus rice and pinto beans; there’s a sizable vegan menu too. Mains are generously portioned, so go easy if you plan on ordering dessert—both the guava and Nutella empanadas are a hit. Expect a lively happy hour on weekdays and a great brunch scene on weekends.

6 íbúar mæla með

La Masa Restaurant

1000 Morris Park Ave

6 íbúar mæla með

Husband and wife duo Joshua and Laura Montalvo bring authentic Colombian food to Morris Park with this airy restaurant. Renowned for their extensive menu of savory and sweet empanadas (including gluten-free varieties), the couple also offers patacones (fried green plantains), maduros rellenos (stuffed sweet plantains) and arepas (savory corn cakes), all served with an assortment of meat or vegetarian topping choices plus rice and pinto beans; there’s a sizable vegan menu too. Mains are generously portioned, so go easy if you plan on ordering dessert—both the guava and Nutella empanadas are a hit. Expect a lively happy hour on weekdays and a great brunch scene on weekends.

SOFRA - Albanian & Greek Cuisine

This family-owned spot has been serving homemade Albanian and Greek food since 2017. Helmed by chef Lida Lushka, originally from Albania, the restaurant has a number of specialties, including freshly made breads, hummus and tzatziki, grilled seafood, beef stew and various souvlaki platters. Delicious best sellers include the suxhuk (charbroiled dry beef sausage), grilled octopus and the meat lovers’ feast, which includes chicken, lamb and qebapa, a grilled minced-meat dish. The casual, rustic atmosphere includes a small lounge and dining areas.

SOFRA - Albanian & Greek Cuisine

This family-owned spot has been serving homemade Albanian and Greek food since 2017. Helmed by chef Lida Lushka, originally from Albania, the restaurant has a number of specialties, including freshly made breads, hummus and tzatziki, grilled seafood, beef stew and various souvlaki platters. Delicious best sellers include the suxhuk (charbroiled dry beef sausage), grilled octopus and the meat lovers’ feast, which includes chicken, lamb and qebapa, a grilled minced-meat dish. The casual, rustic atmosphere includes a small lounge and dining areas.

Patricia's of Morris Park

Owned by Patricia and Calogero Borgognone, this elegant Italian mainstay has been serving patrons for more than three decades. The duo take special pride in making their own homemade pastas, including the gnocchi and squid-ink spaghetti. Family-size Neapolitan-inspired pizzas come straight from their brick oven. Don’t forget dessert: Calogero Borgognone, a trained pastry chef, makes his own tiramisu, almond biscotti and lemon tarts daily.

15 íbúar mæla með

Patricia's of Morris Park

1082 Morris Park Ave

15 íbúar mæla með

Owned by Patricia and Calogero Borgognone, this elegant Italian mainstay has been serving patrons for more than three decades. The duo take special pride in making their own homemade pastas, including the gnocchi and squid-ink spaghetti. Family-size Neapolitan-inspired pizzas come straight from their brick oven. Don’t forget dessert: Calogero Borgognone, a trained pastry chef, makes his own tiramisu, almond biscotti and lemon tarts daily.

Conti's Pastry Shoppe

This century-old bakery and café retains much of its traditional charm, including a pressed-tin ceiling, terrazzo floors and marble countertops—plus an original soda fountain. Although no longer owned by the Conti family, the bakery is led by three first-generation immigrants who have dedicated themselves to maintaining the spot’s quality and appeal—in part by continuing to use some of Conti’s traditional recipes. The fluffy Boston cream pie, still made as it has been for years, is a favorite, as are the cannolis, strawberry shortcake and butter cookies. More modern treats include cake pops, funfetti cookies, macarons and an extensive menu of items made with Nutella.

Conti's Pastry Shoppe

786 Morris Park Ave

This century-old bakery and café retains much of its traditional charm, including a pressed-tin ceiling, terrazzo floors and marble countertops—plus an original soda fountain. Although no longer owned by the Conti family, the bakery is led by three first-generation immigrants who have dedicated themselves to maintaining the spot’s quality and appeal—in part by continuing to use some of Conti’s traditional recipes. The fluffy Boston cream pie, still made as it has been for years, is a favorite, as are the cannolis, strawberry shortcake and butter cookies. More modern treats include cake pops, funfetti cookies, macarons and an extensive menu of items made with Nutella.

Tasty Choice

Sal Alghathi, a longtime Van Nest resident, serves the neighborhood’s growing Middle Eastern community with Tasty Choice, a fast-casual spot doling out a mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines as well as fresh salads and juices. Expect shawarma, kebabs, koftas and falafel accompanied by a pita or alongside rice and pickled salad. Meals are cooked to order, and there’s plenty of seating available indoors.

Tasty Choice

704 Morris Park Avenue

Sal Alghathi, a longtime Van Nest resident, serves the neighborhood’s growing Middle Eastern community with Tasty Choice, a fast-casual spot doling out a mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines as well as fresh salads and juices. Expect shawarma, kebabs, koftas and falafel accompanied by a pita or alongside rice and pickled salad. Meals are cooked to order, and there’s plenty of seating available indoors.

Damascus Sweets

Patrons who engage owner Ahmed in conversation will find him an enthusiastic guide to his freshly made desserts. Best sellers include the baklava, layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and drizzled with sweet syrup or honey; the basbousa, also known as honey cake, made with semolina and soaked in simple syrup; and, most popular of all, the kunafeh, made of semolina dough, stuffed with soft white cheese and adorned with simple syrup. The shop only offers items to go.

Damascus Sweets

677 Morris Park Avenue

Patrons who engage owner Ahmed in conversation will find him an enthusiastic guide to his freshly made desserts. Best sellers include the baklava, layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and drizzled with sweet syrup or honey; the basbousa, also known as honey cake, made with semolina and soaked in simple syrup; and, most popular of all, the kunafeh, made of semolina dough, stuffed with soft white cheese and adorned with simple syrup. The shop only offers items to go.

Fine Food Cuisine

Gambian-born chef Alhagie Jallow, aka Chef Al, has worked with culinary legends like Bobby Flay and Kerry Simon. At Fine Food Cuisine, which he established in 2013, he creates memorable dishes at an affordable price point. Among the favorites are the lobster dinner (a whole lobster, along with mussels, calamari and shrimp, served over linguine) and grilled salmon with garlic butter served with mashed potatoes and greens. The cozy, no-frills dining room offers a view into the kitchen.

Fine Food Cuisine

671 Morris Park Avenue

Gambian-born chef Alhagie Jallow, aka Chef Al, has worked with culinary legends like Bobby Flay and Kerry Simon. At Fine Food Cuisine, which he established in 2013, he creates memorable dishes at an affordable price point. Among the favorites are the lobster dinner (a whole lobster, along with mussels, calamari and shrimp, served over linguine) and grilled salmon with garlic butter served with mashed potatoes and greens. The cozy, no-frills dining room offers a view into the kitchen.

Arth Aljanathain

Locals love this halal spot’s freshly made dishes. Patrons enjoy the maraq soup (a hearty lamb broth), ogda (a flavorful meat or seafood and vegetable stew) and zurbian (basmati rice cooked with meat and infused with saffron and other spices), among many others. All mains come with soup and salad, as well as a spicy condiment. If you choose to dine in, expect unlimited self-serve sweet tea.

Arth Aljanathain

700 Rhinelander Avenue

Locals love this halal spot’s freshly made dishes. Patrons enjoy the maraq soup (a hearty lamb broth), ogda (a flavorful meat or seafood and vegetable stew) and zurbian (basmati rice cooked with meat and infused with saffron and other spices), among many others. All mains come with soup and salad, as well as a spicy condiment. If you choose to dine in, expect unlimited self-serve sweet tea.

Tacos El Bronco 2

Near the busy corner of Pelham Parkway and White Plains Road is Tacos El Bronco II, a food-truck extension of the famed family-owned Mexican restaurant in Sunset Park. Diners can expect soft corn tortilla tacos, which come with fresh chopped cilantro and onions, along with traditional proteins like chicken, spicy pork, chorizo and shredded beef. (More adventurous diners may want to try the pork stomach or cow’s tongue fillings.) Alongside the food items are drinks like horchata, hibiscus tea and the tamarindo, a specialty beverage made from the sweet-sour tamarind fruit, sugar and water.

Tacos El Bronco 2

2140 White Plains Road

Near the busy corner of Pelham Parkway and White Plains Road is Tacos El Bronco II, a food-truck extension of the famed family-owned Mexican restaurant in Sunset Park. Diners can expect soft corn tortilla tacos, which come with fresh chopped cilantro and onions, along with traditional proteins like chicken, spicy pork, chorizo and shredded beef. (More adventurous diners may want to try the pork stomach or cow’s tongue fillings.) Alongside the food items are drinks like horchata, hibiscus tea and the tamarindo, a specialty beverage made from the sweet-sour tamarind fruit, sugar and water.

Kirvens

Kirvens, a lively neighborhood watering hole, has been an area nightlife staple since 2018. The cozy spot offers live music and bar games, along with specials for ladies’ night and themed evenings that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. The menu includes an extensive list of craft beers and an inventive cocktails, plus seasonal wines and a few items to eat.

Kirvens

736 Lydig Ave

Kirvens, a lively neighborhood watering hole, has been an area nightlife staple since 2018. The cozy spot offers live music and bar games, along with specials for ladies’ night and themed evenings that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. The menu includes an extensive list of craft beers and an inventive cocktails, plus seasonal wines and a few items to eat.